CARACAS, Venezuela, July 18 (UPI) -- The Roman Catholic Church in Venezuela lambasted President Hugo Chavez Monday for his criticism of a cardinal during a national address.
Chavez said on Sunday that Cardinal Rosario Castillo "had the devil inside him" and that the Catholic Church in Venezuela was trying to undermine his efforts at social reform.
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The Church retaliated against the Chavez remarks the following day. Monsignor Roberto Luckert said on Globovision TV that the president "must give respect in order to get respect" and has no right to insult a Church official.
Other opponents of Chavez, both at home and abroad, accuse the leftist leader of trying to create a Cuba-style communist state and hard-line authoritarian regime.
